Cycling culture gains ground in Lebanon as fuel runs dry

Cyclists from lawyers in crisp suits to mums with kids take on Lebanon’s maddening traffic in the collapsing country.

Beirut, Lebanon – While traffic in Lebanon has always been extremely chaotic, recent fuel shortages have led to dystopian scenarios: from people sleeping in their cars to buy petrol as soon as gas stations open, to horrific traffic accidents caused by disorienting long lines. This added daily struggle has driven many to the brink of desperation, with some seeking alternative solutions to their daily commute. “I receive at least three calls a day from friends and acquaintances asking me whether I know a place that sells cheap bicycles,” says Natheer Halawani, an entrepreneur branded the “Bicycle Mayor of Tripoli”.